SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday October 21st, 3.00pm
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
GILLINGHAM 1
Lee Martin 62
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Daniel Powell 45
Matt Grimes 73
Attendance: 4,640 (293 Cobblers fans)
Gillingham: Thomas Holy, Sean Clare, Gabriel Zakuani, Max Ehmer, Connor Ogilvie, Jake Hessenthaler, Billy Bingham, Josh Parker, Lee Martin, Elliott List, Tom Eaves (sub Bradley Garmston 76)
Subs not used: Stuart Nelson, Scott Wagstaff, Mark Byrne, Ben Chapman, Greg Cundle, Conor Wilkinson
Cobblers: Matt Ingram, Regan Poole, David Buchanan, Ash Taylor, Aaron Pierre, Shaun McWilliams, Matt Grimes, Daniel Powell, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Sam Foley 64), Sam Hoskins (sub Billy Waters 75), Chris Long (sub Marc Richards 90)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Dean Bowditch, Yaser Kasim, George Smith
Referee: Mr Ross Joyce
Booked:
Gillingham: Gabriel Zakuani (89)
Cobblers: David Buchanan (9, 1st of the season), Shaun McWilliams (69, 3rd), Matt Grimes (86, 3rd)
5 cautions on or before 19 games; 1 match suspension
10 cautions on or before 32 games; 2 match suspension
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension
Sent off:
Gillingham: none
Cobblers: none
Sendings off: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.
Sam Hoskins and Shaun McWilliams came back into the side for the trip to Gillingham and John-Joe O’Toole started a game for the first time since April as he continued his return from a groin injury. McWilliams filled in at right-back with Brendan Moloney (knee) unavailable for selection. Marc Richards, back from a thigh strain, was named on the bench.
Gabriel Zakuani, who spent the 2016/17 season at Sixfields, started for Gillingham who also included two former Cobblers loanees in their side, Lee Martin and Josh Parker.
Matt Grimes went close with an early free-kick with Storm Brian making conditions difficult for both sides on a blustery afternoon in Kent. Jake Hessenthaler flashed a header wide in the first chance of the game for the Gills. Thomas Holy saved from Daniel Powell with Matt Ingram tested by a shot from Martin.
A block from Zakuani saw a shot from Chris Long deflected behind and Hoskins volleyed just over the bar as the first half reached the midway point. Ash Taylor meanwhile made a vital tackle to deny a clean through on goal Tom Eaves.
The Cobblers took the lead just before half-time, Daniel Powell with a powerful drive from 25-yards that gave Holy in the Gills goal no chance.
Holy made a good save to prevent Aaron Pierre making it 2-0 as the Cobblers began the second half on the front foot.
It was Gillingham who scored the game’s next goal though, Lee Martin with the equaliser from 10-yards after a neat turn inside the area.
The Cobblers were back in front on 73 minutes, Matt Grimes with a terrific free-kick from 25-yards that went in via the post.
Substitute Sam Foley headed wide from a corner as the Cobblers looked to put the result beyond doubt, Powell also nearly capitalising on a poor back pass to make it 3-1 in stoppage time. Two goals in the end proved to be enough though as the Cobblers claimed a three-point haul on the road.
GILLINGHAM MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 8
CORNERS: (7) 9
FOULS: (7) 16
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (2) 5
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 8
CORNERS: (4) 6
FOULS: (5) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1